Goalkeeper Coach - Marius Røvde

A goalkeeper coach with nearly two decades of playing experience in Europe, Knut Marius Røvde joined the Whitecaps FC coaching staff in June 2011. He has also served as the goalkeeper coach to Canada’s national youth teams since November 2011. Røvde holds a Goalkeeper 'A' Coaching Licence and 'B' Coaching Licence from the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).

Røvde comes to Vancouver following coaching spells with the Ontario Soccer Association (OSA) and the Durham Region Soccer Association (DRSA) in Oshawa, Ontario, between 2009 and 2011. His roles included the coaching of goalkeepers for the OSA and DRSA and serving as a coaching mentor in the province. From 2008 to 2011, Røvde also served as the head goalkeeper coach at Trinidad & Tobago Professional Football League (TT Pro League) side Joe Public FC and as the director of goalkeepers for the Trinidad & Tobago Football Federation. Serving under former Canadian women’s national team head coach Even Pellerud, Røvde was on the coaching staff of Trinidad & Tobago’s U-17 squad when the Caribbean nation hosted the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. He was also in the Trinidad & Tobago coaching staff that took part in qualifying for the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany, as well as the CONCACAF U-17 and U-20 men’s championships in 2011. In 1999, Røvde coached the U-16 squad of Scottish side Greenock Morton FC after serving as chief executive officer (CEO) of Norwegian outfit Hønefoss Ballklubb (BK) from 1996 to 1998.

Before embarking on his coaching career, the native of Trondheim, Norway, enjoyed a successful career as a goalkeeper in his home country and the United Kingdom. His soccer career began with hometown side Rosenborg BK, where he played for the Norwegian giants from 1987 to 1992. After a spell of military service in the Norwegian army, Røvde played in the Norwegian second-tier 1. Divisjon for Drøbak/Frogn Idrettslag in 1995 and 1996 before returning to Norway's top-flight Eliteserien when he joined Stabaek IF that year. He helped ‘The Blue Ones’ to their first Norwegian FA Cup title in 1998 before dropping back down to the Norwegian 1. Divisjon to play for Hønefoss BK in 1999. It was that same year that Røvde moved to Scotland to play for Ayr United FC, where he made a semifinal appearance during the 1999-2000 Scottish FA Cup. In 2001, the goalkeeper moved to North Wales to play for Wrexham AFC during the 2001-02 English League One season. Røvde returned to the Norwegian Eliteserien for a season with Lillestrøm Sportsklubb in 2002 before joining Motherwell FC for the 2002-03 Scottish Premier League campaign. He concluded his playing career in Norway with Hamarkameratene (HamKam), where he led the Hamar-based outfit earn promotion to the Norwegian Eliteserien in 2003. Following three more seasons in the Norwegian top flight with HamKam, Røvde hung up his goalkeeping gloves in 2006.

Outside of football, Røvde earned the equivalent of an undergraduate degree during his military service in the Norwegian army from 1991 to 1997. He spent time in automobile sales in his home country between 2000 and 2006 before serving as director of Numero Uno Web and Sports Development from 2006 to 2011. Røvde is also co-owner and former CEO for Norwegian company Green Concept Agency.

Born June 26, 1972, Røvde is married to wife Lisa and has four children named Lucca, Marcus, Nia, and Oliva.